Chapter 301: Chapter 159: Everything Will Be Alright_2
"I heard someone say that the statues come from a certain master sculptor." Xia Nan recalled the information Farrello had introduced to him earlier. "In that case, this master’s output isn’t much, is it?"
To this, Jamie only scratched his head, looking increasingly puzzled.
"Master... there shouldn’t be, right?"
"At least no one knows who made these wood carvings now."
"A while back, the mentor was also complaining during class, saying that there are too few statues, they used to be as cheap as a meal, now the price is soaring to the sky."
Hearing this, Xia Nan was taken aback.
After pondering for a moment, he realized.
He noticed that Farrello’s claims earlier were half-truths.
It’s true that wood carvings are popular in Neum, but the so-called ’originated from a master sculptor’ was most likely a beautified lie made up for easier sales.
Suddenly, as if thinking of something.
He frowned, and his expression turned even more serious.
As if to confirm a certain suspicion in his heart, he asked Jamie in front of him:
"Since no one knows the exact origin of the statues, could it also be that..."
"The wood carvings appeared out of thin air in Neum City."
Not knowing why the gentleman in front was asking this, Jamie simply pondered for a moment based on his own knowledge and the other’s thought.
Then slowly nodded.
"Yes."
Hmph.
Hearing the response, Xia Nan’s heart tightened, feeling that things were unfolding beyond his control.
In his mind flashed the attribute panel that brought him back from a daze.
Recalling the information on the panel at that time, fragmented clues began to subtly connect in his mind.
"Unknown origin," "appear out of nowhere," "distinctive style"...
Giving him a strangely familiar déjà vu.
Like the {Gravity Core} that helped him gain his Professional Level, like the {Copper Bones} he gained from the Dark Snake Cave.
He remembered during his journey deep into the forest with the Half Elf and others, he encountered many similarly appearing out of nowhere, Eastern-style classical buildings.
Even if now, replacing those "buildings" with "wood carvings," the way they appeared was essentially the same.
Could it be...
Suddenly, Xia Nan turned his head, looking at Jeff, who had been attentively listening to their conversation, and asked:
"Has there been anything strange happening lately in Neum City or the surrounding areas?"
"For example... strange buildings suddenly erected overnight, or unknown demon corpses appearing out of thin air."
Jeff seriously recalled, going through all the information in his mind, even including rumors he heard at the tavern, then slowly shook his head:
"Strange events around here... if I had to say, the explosion in Kalanfor should count as one, but you should’ve been in River Valley Town at the time and probably know about it."
"Other than that, there was only last year’s ’sewage’ incident."
At that time, Jeff hadn’t retired yet, still earning money with the convoy and didn’t know much about the detailed course of the incident.
Pausing slightly.
Sitting beside him, his wife Daisy tacitly picked up the topic.
"I remember at that time, the water sources in several streets in Lower City District were contaminated, many people died, and the streets were filled with guards coming and going."
"Although it didn’t affect us much here, to be safe, I always went to the church to have the Priest purify the water we used at home."
"This lasted for many days until things gradually improved."
"In the end, I heard it was an evil Druid conducting some experiments in Lower City District that caused the water source contamination."
"I don’t know if he’s been caught now."
Upon hearing this, Xia Nan nodded slightly.
Though not disappointed, he also harbored no additional emotions.
The Kalanfor explosion was the aftermath of Barbarian Fugang’s fight with his enemies.
The Neum sewage incident had long been listed on the adventurer association’s bounty task board, caused by the Druid from the Spore Collective.
It bore no apparent link to the signs of the "Secret Realm" he imagined.
He fell into contemplation, frowning for a long time without speaking.
Evidently making the parents of the two children in front of him anxious.
Daisy glanced at Jamie, who was fidgeting uneasily beside her, and asked worriedly:
"Mr. Xia Nan, is there something wrong with this wood carving, will it have a bad influence on Jamie?"
To this, Xia Nan just stared at Jamie, serious in expression:
"When you first saw and touched this statue, did you have any strange feelings?"
"Anything like being entranced, feeling creepy, or being attracted... is there any?"
"No, sir." Under the gaze of everyone, Jamie shook his head affirmatively, a few drops of cold sweat already on his forehead.
"Has your mentor’s personality changed significantly, or has he done anything strange recently?"
"No, Mr. Xia Nan."
Thus it seems, the influence of the wood carving may be limited to himself, or rather, only from the one in "Fairy Wind."
The ones circulating in Neum City, at least currently, seem to have no actual ability to impact the human body.
Of course, the possibility of a latent period cannot be ruled out either.
Perhaps it’s just waiting for a future opportunity to fully erupt, dragging the carrier into the abyss.
After thinking for a moment, Xia Nan chose to leave out information about the attribute panel while sharing his encounter in River Valley Town with Jeff’s family.
"At least for now, Jamie is safe."
"The statue itself might not be as evil as I said."
"But..."
Tap—
He lightly tapped the table with his fingertip.
A iron spoon with sticky soup on a plate lifted about a fist’s height, hovered for half a second, then naturally fell back down.
"Personally, I suggest minimizing contact with this wood carving."
Screech!
The chair legs screeched against the ground.
Jeff moved quickly.
Even his wife Daisy beside him hadn’t reacted yet before he stood up.
Taking off his coat, he tightly wrapped the bag containing the statue in it.
"Jamie, your mentor’s address?"
Jamie was taken aback, but instinctively replied:
"Eagle Badge Avenue, No. 35."
Nodding, without further explanation, he walked towards the door, hastily instructing Daisy:
"Daisy, take the kids to the Moon God Church; I’ll be right there."
Having driven for many years, this experienced middle-aged man had already formulated an emergency plan in just a few seconds.
If, as Xia Nan said, even just seeing it could have an effect, then everyone, including himself, had directly seen the wood carving.
Be it purification or expulsion, seeking help from the church was the only choice for ordinary people like them.
And if the wood carving is indeed just an ordinary statue, like Xia Nan suspected, with only the one in River Valley Town cursed.
By returning it himself, Jamie’s mentor, who Jamie mentioned to have gone to great lengths to obtain it, wouldn’t blame his child for its loss.
He could of course destroy the wood carving or take it to the church.
But who knows how such an "Evil Object" would react to external stimuli.
During his days following the convoy, he had heard of numerous similarly dire accidents.
Out of selfishness, he didn’t want this ticking time bomb to remain with his family for even one more second.
Concerned about his family’s safety, Jeff wasn’t as kind-hearted as usual, at most offering a few warnings to that mentor when returning the statue.
Hurried footsteps.
Walking straight to the door, hands gripping the handle.
Only then did Jeff turn around, as if thinking of something, looking at the dark-haired young man in the dining room.
"Mr. Xia Nan, we will be fine..."
"Right?"